S. LUCIUS, _Pope, M. at Rome_, A.D. 253. SS. NINE HUNDRED MARTYRS _on the Appian Way, at Rome, circ._ A.D. 260. S. CAIUS _the Palatine_, AND XXVII. COMPANIONS, _MM. at Rome._ S. OWEN, _Mk. at Lastingham, end of 7th cent._ S. BASINUS, _B. of Treves, circ._ A.D. 672. SS. ADRIAN, _B. of S. Andrews_, AND COMP., _MM. in the Isle of May, circ._ A.D. 870. S. CASIMIR, _Prince of Poland_, A.D. 1484. S. LUCIUS, POPE, M. (A.D. 253.) [Usuardus, Ado, Notker, Wandelbert, and Roman Martyrologies. Authorities:--Eusebius, the letters of S. Cyprian, Anastasius Bibliothecarius, and a Life by Guaiserius, a monk, (11th cent.)] Saint Lucius was a Roman by birth, and one of the clergy of that church under SS. Fabian and Cornelius. This latter having been crowned with martyrdom, in 252, S. Lucius succeeded him in the pontificate. The emperor Gallus having renewed the persecution of his predecessor Decius, at least in Rome, this holy pope was no sooner placed in the chair of S. Peter, than he was banished, though to what place is uncertain. "Thus," says S. Dionysius of Alexandria, "did Gallus deprive himself of the succour of heaven, by expelling those who every day prayed to God for his peace and prosperity." S. Cyprian wrote to S. Lucius to congratulate him both on his promotion, and on having had grace to suffer banishment for Christ. Our saint had been but a short time in exile when he was recalled, to the great joy of his people, who went out of Rome in crowds to meet him. S. Cyprian wrote to him a second letter of congratulation on this occasion. He says, "He had not lost the dignity of martyrdom because he had the will, as the three children in the furnace, though preserved by God from death; this glory added a new dignity to his priesthood; so that he, a bishop, assisted at God's altar, who could exhort his flock to martyrdom by his own example as well as by his words. By giving such graces to his pastors, God showed where his true Church was: for he denied the like glory of suffering to the Novatian heretics. The enemy of Christ only attacks the soldiers of Christ: heretics he knows to be already his own, and passes them by. We supplicate God the Father and His Son, our Lord, giving thanks and praying together, that He who perfects all may bring you to the glorious crown of your confession, who, perhaps, has only recalled you that your glory might not be hidden; for the victim who owes his brethren an example of virtue and faith, ought to be sacrificed before their eyes."